“I have an invitation in my hand from (board President and CEO) Carol Wilding herself,” said the mayor in laughter, after entering the Toronto Convention Centre. “I have had it for weeks.”

But, still, His Worship had do some talking to get in. Seems they didn’t have him down on any of the seating charts.

“When I got to the door, they didn’t have my name anywhere. It was something else,” he said. “I saw the deputy mayor’s name there. Actually it was (driver, special assistant and fitness consultant) Jerry (Agyemang) who pulled some strings and got me this seat at the table.”

Were they trying to tell him something?

Ford said it turns out they were.

“I got the impression I was not welcome. I got a call on the way over to the event from one of my staff telling me that someone left a message on an a voicemail that I was no longer invited,” said the mayor. “It was too late. I hadn’t heard about this. I was already there so I decided to go in anyway. I always try to support the board of trade and its members.”